Kate Spade traveling bus tour rolls into Los Angeles this weekend

What better way to spend a day than soaking up the sun and doing a little shopping? Kate Spade's traveling bus tour rolls into Los Angeles this weekend, March 2-4, with a Friday night concert by Brooklyn-based indie band the Vivian Girls and a pop-up shop that will be open in three locations.

It's all tied to the brand's spring marketing campaign, styled by Brad Goreski, whom Adam Tschorn wrote about in a story in Sunday's Image section.

The campaign features a fictitious girl band in a tour bus kitted out in a black-and-white "Japanese floral" print by the late Australian designer Florence Broadhurst. (As an aside, Broadhurst was a fascinating, flamboyant figure -- a musician, journalist, painter and wallpaper designer whose 1977 killing is still a mystery.)

Her print carries over into Kate Spade's flowery spring clothing, shoes and accessories, including scarves, totes, compacts and fedoras, and to special "tour merchandise" created for the Vivian Girls, who have already brought the campaign to life with live concerts in New York and Seattle, and will wrap up their fashionable road trip Friday night at the Grove in Los Angeles.

On Friday, the tour bus pop-up shop will be on the lawn at the Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a live concert by the Vivian Girls at 7 p.m. 

Saturday, the bus stops in Venice at The Brig parking lot, 1515 Abbot Kinney Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

And on Sunday, the Kate Spade traveling bus tour comes to an end in Santa Monica at 2740 Main St., between Hill Street and Ashland Avenue. For more info, go to www.katespade.com.

-- Booth Moore

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Photo: Spring marketing campaign. Credit: Kate Spade

 

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012: Kate Spade

Designer Deborah Lloyd has really injected new energy and fun into the Kate Spade brand. For fall, she was inspired by French gamines hangin' in the courtyard at the Palais Royale in Paris.

That translated into a bright color story with lots of graphic touches, including the print on a full skirt spelling out "toutes les filles sont folles" (all the girls are mad), designed by blogger, fashion illustrator and photographer Garance Dore.

One of the key looks in the collection was a pair of blazing orange pants cropped over polka dot heels, and worn with an aqua-colored cardigan. The colorful cropped pants-over-heels look is one that all the fashion girls are already wearing , and apparently, it's going to have legs!

There were lots of cute extras, too -- jeweled Peter Pan collars, a puff of a marabou feather purse and sparkling fishnet tights. And the polka dot manicures were genius.

-- Booth Moore

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Photos: Looks form Kate Spade's fall-winter 2012 collection. Credit: Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images

Kate Spade launches Westward collection with Hollywood stylists

Even creative director Deborah Lloyd will admit that Kate Spade can come across as too perfect -- with her charming bow-front pumps, triple strand pearls, feminine full skirts and structured handbags at times looking like something out of the Kennedy era.

How to get Kate to loosen up? Send her to Los Angeles. That was the impetus behind the new Westward collection for Kate Spade, designed by Hollywood stylist-designers Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, known for their whimsical, all-American style, their red-carpet finesse with budding starlets such as Emma Roberts and Mandy Moore, and their revival of the boyfriend jean with the launch of the now-3-year-old denim brand Current/Elliott. 

"It's a story of adventure, where you throw everything in your car and go," said Emily Current, explaining the inspiration behind the line of handbags, which might be described as Dustbowl glam (broken-in suede satchels, black sequin over-sized clutches and travel duffles with luggage-brown leather trim).  

Current, Elliott, Lloyd and Roberts hosted a small dinner party under the stars on the roof of the Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood on Wednesday to celebrate the collaboration. And true to Kate Spade style, every detail was delightful. The place cards were vintage postcards of the West; the centerpieces rough-looking wood planters, old record players, books and musical instruments; and the striped napkins were matched to the "circus stripe" lining in the Westward handbags. 

Roberts looked very old Hollywood in Kate Spade's strapless black-and-cream "ribbon Mirabelle" dress, red patent leather heels and matching red lips. Michelle Trachtenberg was in the vintage-look black "June" dress. And Zelda Williams (Robin Williams' daughter) wore real vintage -- a sheer, rust-colored tunic dress over a Wolford slip. Bryce Dallas Howard, Kate Spade's celebrity model of the moment, was unable to attend, but did walk the red carpet at Tuesday night's premiere of "The Help" in a custom Kate Spade maternity dress.

Lloyd, who has managed a spectacular turnaround of the Kate Spade brand since arriving three years ago from Banana Republic and Burberry, hinted that the Westward collection could be the first of many collaborations. (Kate Spade the person is no longer associated with her namesake brand, which was sold to Liz Claiborne in 2007.) Coming up in September, Kate Spade is launching four "Supercalifragilipstick" shades in conjunction with makeup artist Poppy King. 

Lloyd was wearing clothing from the fall Kate Spade collection landing in stores now -- black cigarette pants, a boxy beige metallic tweed jacket, and square-toe pumps with chunky heels. The collection was inspired by David Bailey's 1960s-era photographs of model Jean Shrimpton. The second fall delivery will be less mod and more romantic, she said, with a nod to the elegant black-and-white fashion photographs taken by Lillian Bassman.

Lloyd is a collector of fashion photography, and was even able to persuade the 93-year-old Bassman to lend one of her iconic images to a Kate Spade tote.

The Current/Elliott gals and Lloyd will be celebrating the Westward collection with a party open to the public at the Kate Spade store in Century City on Aug. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 788-0791.

-- Booth Moore 

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Upper photo: From left, Emily Current, Emma Roberts, Deborah Lloyd and Meritt Elliott. Credit: Donato Sardella

Middle photo: Zelda Williams. Credit: Donato Sardella

Lower photo: Pieces from the Westward collection. Credit: Donato Sardella

Your Morning Fashion and Beauty Report: The Beckhams welcome baby Harper

David and Victoria Beckham welcomed a baby girl in Los Angeles on Sunday. The newborn, named Harper Seven, is the first daughter in a family that includes three big brothers. She already inspired her fashion-designer mother to create a collection of "girly-girl" dresses while pregnant. Word is that Christian Louboutin is sending over a pair of custom red-soled booties. We think this will be one of the most fashionable baby girls ever. [Telegraph] 

And why, you may ask, the middle name "Seven"? Not a firm answer on that one, but there are theories: it was her soccer-star dad's jersey number when he played for Manchester United and for the English National Team. And it's considered a lucky number. [People]

Camilla Al Fayed, the daughter of ex-Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, has bought a controlling share in one of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge's favorite labels, Issa. Catherine wore a blue dress by Issa designer Daniella Helayel for her first engagement photo, and a couple of Issa frocks on her Canada/U.S. visit. Camilla Al Fayed's 51% stake will provide funds to help Issa grow. [Telegraph]

Kate Spade is teaming with Current/Elliott designers Emily Current and Meritt Elliott for a capsule collection of street-style handbags. Prices in the Westward by Emily and Merritt for Kate Spade collection will range from $245 to $1,295, and the bags will go on sale in August. [FabSugar]

Socialite Cornelia Guest, a committed vegan, is debuting a line of vegan handbags. [WWD] (Subscription required.)

PopSugar L.A. got a peek inside the hidden VIP room at the new What Goes Around Comes Around boutique on LaBrea in Los Angeles. The room is reserved for celebrity clients, costume designers and stylists who want a more private shopping experience. Inside there's "a treasure trove of amazing vintage pieces, everything from Chanel to YSL to more theatrical pieces and glitzy eveningwear," said writer Melody Nazarian. [PopSugar L.A.]  

Lingerie purveyor Frederick's of Hollywood plans to open its first flagship in Abu Dhabi this month. [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

Victoria's Secret angel Candice Swanepoel looks downright devilish vamping in the new fall ad campaign for Tom Ford women's wear, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The ads were shot outdoors in London, in a spot overlooking the Thames River, and will be seen in the September issues of fashion magazines. [WWD]

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-- Susan Denley

Photo: Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, wearing an Issa dress in her engagement photo with Prince William. Credit: Ben Stansall / AFP/Getty Images

Mother's Day gifts: Tote-ally chic

Mother's Day is Sunday so every day this week we have ideas to inspire your gift-giving

 
Name a mom whose life isn’t filled with toting and whose tote isn’t overflowing. So what better gift than an updated tote to help keep her pulled together at the beach and beyond? A glam slam in the season’s favorite stripes, this sequined Prada tote is sure to become mom’s on-the-go go-to. The pop of color, shimmer and print instantly wake up her most basic tee-and-short errands uniform, plus we love the idea of toting sequins to the pool. Prada Paillettes Tote Bag, $1,350 at the Prada boutique in Beverly Hills. Call (310) 278-8661.

 
Or polish off her poolside style with a tote and matching plush oversized terrycloth towel by Calypso St. Barth in one of four fresh, globally-inspired prints. This coordinating duo is guaranteed to save packing stresses. Yes, you deserve a day at the beach, just for giving it. Beach Towel, $175, and Beach Tote, $120, in one of four patterns at www.calypsostbarth.com or Calypso Home, Brentwood.

Embellished with seashells and emblazoned with that message all moms have in their heads, Kate Spade’s straw tote and hat (the season’s must-have oversized floppy) pretty much spell it out: Mom Needs A Vacation…NOW! We suggest going for one piece or the other (no need to hammer in the message) and slipping in an airline ticket to any destination that has a pool or beach or a sandbox nearby. We bet she won’t even really care where—or whether it’s one-way. Kate Spade A Day Away Gemine Tote, $225, and I Need A Vacation Floppy Hat, $95, at www.katespade.com or Kate Spade Century City, (310) 788-0791.

--Ingrid Schmidt

Thursday: The best-dressed table

Photos: Top, Prada Paillettes tote, courtesy of Prada; middle, Calypso St. Barth tote, courtesy of Calypso St. Barth; bottom, Kate Spade tote,  courtesy of Kate Spade.

Kate Spade’s super colorful luncheon

 

To celebrate the first celebrity face for her brand, Kate Spade threw a fun and colorful lunch on Friday for actress Bryce Dallas Howard who is starring in the spring ad campaign for Spade’s accessories collection.

Set under a tented area at the Chateau Marmont, guests gathered at a long banquet table appropriately set with a bubblegum pink table runner and no shortage of pink peonies and scattered gold confetti.

“I am genuinely a fan of Kate Spade. The day I found out about being in the ads a box of Kate Spade dishes that I had ordered completely on my own arrived at my door. I have been a rabid fan of the brand for a long time,” said Howard who looked 1960s ladylike in a green-and-white Kate Spade Fleur dress, which drew a nice contrast to her crimson red hair. “It’s such a natural expression of femininity. I aspire to be a Kate Spade girl.”

Apparently, so do a lot of other guests who showed up in acid brights such as lime green, lemon yellow, tangerine and coral, many with their Kate Spade bags, the most eye-catching being the Scout bag in a vivid watermelon pink.

Other celebs included Mandy Moore and Anna Kendrick, who with their porcelain skin and ladylike ensembles added to the girly feeling of the afternoon.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Mandy Moore, left, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anna Kendrick and Ahna O’Reilly. Credit: Stephanie Keenan

'Project Runway's' Tim Gunn greets his fawning fans at Kate Spade in Pasadena

Mere hours before Seth Aaron Henderson was revealed as this season's "Project Runway" winner, the show's co-host, Tim Gunn, was greeting hoards of fans at the Kate Spade store in Pasadena.

Gunn, who pulls double duty as TV host and the chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne (the parent company of Kate Spade) was in town to drum up business for the brand by hosting a fashion presentation and audience Q&A session.

His Southern California stopover was part of a national tour of Kate Spade stores the fashion exec's been on, which has included major cities such as Dallas and Chicago.

Fans crammed into the small boutique on Colorado Boulevard for a chance to ask Gunn styling advice and introduce models dressed in sunny Kate Spade ensembles. And if you were behind the third row of smiling women, you were hard-pressed to even catch a glimpse of the man who made "Make it work" a national catchphrase.

Events: See Tim Gunn make it work at Kate Spade in Pasadena

On Thursday, Tim Gunn is greeting shoppers and doling out pointers to make your outfits pop with colorful Kate Spade accessories. Spend $100 at the event, and you can strike a pose with the "Project Runway" mentor for a pic to take home. New Kate Space spring bags include the Darien drawstring, $395, and the Flicker shopper, $225. Other accessory options encompass necklaces and the new Blow Baubles ring, $95. Complimentary bubbly poured for guests.

39 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. (626) 356-9460. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

-- Max Padilla

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Photo: Flicker shopper in watermelon, $225. Credit: Kate Spade New York

Weekend Update: Ralph Lauren's RLX opens in Malibu, spring looks by Kate Spade at South Coast, Tarina Tarantino signing at Sephora Hollywood

Polo Ralph Lauren introduces its RLX concept shop carrying active lifestyle gear (formerly RLX Ski) for men and women on Friday at Malibu Country Mart. White-on-white seasonal looks for women show up in the Sunset dress, left ($198), and pima cotton harem pant ($145) and for men, in the double-layer cotton T-shirt ($85) and super-soft lounge pant ($125).

3835 Cross Creek Road, Malibu. (310) 456-5375. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Events

Thursday, Glendale Galleria hosts an Alice in Wonderland-themed art party (upper level, near Nordstrom) featuring work from Yuki Miyasaki, Melissa Kojima, Price Praise, Frijol Boy and Romina Gonzales. Complimentary beverages and treats.

100 W. Broadway, Glendale. (818) 240-9841. 7 to 9 p.m.

On Friday, Kate Spade creative director Deborah Lloyd shows off the latest bag and accessory looks for spring at Nordstrom in South Coast Plaza.

3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. (714) 549-8300. 6  to 9 p.m.

Tarina Tarantino is introducing her new Beauty collection for Sephora at Hollywood & Highland on Saturday, and makeup artists are giving makeovers. Tarantino is also signing a special collector’s book (gift with purchase from the collection). Along with the new Tarina Tarantino Beauty for Sephora line, shoppers can purchase one of 15 limited-edition handmade Dollskin Powder Compacts ($150).

6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 462-6898. 1 to 4 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Brentwood Village invites the public to celebrate spring with store specials, local vendors, a petting zoo, face painting, treats and local musicians -- Peter Goetz, La Vie, the Hawley Rollers and City Fritter. While having fun, help someone less fortunate by donating new or gently used baby gear and clothes (age 2 to 4) to L.A. charity Baby2Baby. Local vendors include LaGoldenOne’s Indian-inspired headpieces and Cut by Wesley recycled vintage ties.

Barrington Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. Noon to 4 p.m. 

-- Max Padilla

Photo: RLX Sunset dress. Credit: From Polo Ralph Lauren

Google hits the tents at Bryant Park (sort of)

It's a follow-up to the handful of designer templates we told you about in May, which iGoogle’s product marketing manager Michaela Prescott said had been installed on "hundreds of thousands" of iGoogle home pages since.

Just in time for the first show of the day at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Google took the wraps off its latest collection of homepage themes including a dozen and a half by fashion brands including Burberry, Gucci, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney, Jimmy Choo and Rock & Republic.

"The most popular ones to date have been Dolce & Gabbana and Marc Ecko," she told us earlier today, "And Coldplay." (In addition to fashion, the collection also includes musician-themed pages by Radiohead, Gnarls Barkley and Faith Hill.)

It’s a win-win for both sides; the Silicon Valley company gets to gussy up its goods with the desktop equivalent of designer duds, and the fashion brands get to try their hand at designing a few of the road signs on the busiest lane of the information superhighway.

Among our favorites in the new crop of page toppers are Paul Frank Industries’ brightly colored Julius the monkey and his cartoon pals, and the polka dots, jellyfish of Kate Spade.

And if Google’s taking suggestions for next season, how about partnering with venerable clothier Brooks Brothers? With the continuing surge in preppie revival in men’s wear, what could be possibly be more popular than a navy blue homepage –- with clickable brass buttons?

— Adam Tschorn

Photos: IGoogle artists themes by designer Michael Kors, top, and Vivienne Tam. Bottom, iGoogle's display in the Bryant Park tents during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Credits: Google.com for top two images; Adam Tschorn, bottom.